Tanaiste Announces Government Support of over €11m Funding for Local Enterprise

22 Community Enterprise Centres Supported under Enterprise Ireland Scheme

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan T.D. today, (Thursday 30 October 2008) announced the awarding of over €11m funding and management development support for 39 community enterprise centres spread throughout the country, under the Community Enterprise Centre Scheme, funded by Government and managed by Enterprise Ireland. This major investment is towards the development of 22 new centres and expansions at six existing centres. The funding also includes €1m to support the management infrastructure within the community enterprise centre network. These combined projects will be instrumental in driving local enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Making the announcement the Tánaiste said: “The Community Enterprise Centre Scheme marks a highly successful partnership between the state and Enterprise Ireland, and the local community, at two levels. Firstly, it stimulates the growth of an enterprising and innovative culture of entrepreneurship, the essential seedbed for the growth of successful young businesses. And secondly, it provides the practical support in terms of space and facilities and a supportive environment, for new businesses to emerge and prosper at a local level”.

Today’s funding announcement marks the second tranche of approvals from the €21m 2007 – 2009 Community Enterprise Scheme. Since the launch of the first scheme in 1989, a total of €50.8m has been approved and the impact of the programme at a local level, both urban and rural, is significant. The Government through Enterprise Ireland has supported 134 communities, and the 105 completed centres are now home to approximately 1,000 successful businesses, employing approximately 5000 people. These centres have a real and measurable impact on the economic and social development of local communities and are a tangible contribution to balanced regional development.

Outlining the background to the Community Enterprise Centre Scheme and its growth and development, the Tanaiste said: “The Community Enterprise Scheme is an example of what can be achieved when the ambitions and energy of a local community are supported by the state. This is very much a community led initiative in the form of a partnership between the local community and the state – the community provides the business space in the centre and the Government through Enterprise Ireland can then fund up to 50% of the costs of the centre. Funding support can also be provided towards funding the appointment of Business Development Managers – these are key appointments that can play a strategic role in driving the growth of the centres and in enterprise development in the wider economy. The remainder of the funding is actively raised by the community itself from local sources. In this way, it represents all that is best when local resources and commitment can be harnessed and encouraged”.

The Tánaiste went on to welcome the growing focus in the centres on businesses that operate in the services and high value added sectors, marking a move into the wider knowledge economy. These sectors offer significant potential for continued growth. She also welcomed the synergies emerging at a local level, where increasingly the centres are developing stronger links with the education and other institutions in their hinterland. She congratulated the centres on the recent launch of their National Association of Community Enterprise Centres. “This initiative is a significant development and the Association will provide a strong and effective platform for the Centres from all parts of the country to act together cohesively while, promoting best practice and a shared vision and energy for the continued growth of Community Enterprise across all regions”, she said.

ENDS/ETE 1963

For further information please contact:

Enterprise Ireland, Press officer, Eileen Banks, Tel: +353 1 7272805+353 87 2445814, email: Eileen.Banks@enterprise-ireland.com

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment - Press Officer, Roisin McCann: Tel: 01- 6312200 -

Community Enterprise Centre Scheme 2008

Centres Approved:

The following individual community groups have been approved for both Capital and Management Development grants under the Community Enterprise Centre Scheme 2008.

The overall total amount recommended for approval is €11,151,643.

**Border Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
4	Dundalk	Louth Craftmark Ltd. c/o Louth County Enterprise Board, Quayside Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth	500,000	50,000
5	Drogheda	Drogheda Chamber of Commerce (Newsroom and Library) Ltd. Chamber House, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth	500,000	-
6	Milford	Milford and District Resource Ltd., Enterprise House, The Diamond, Milford, Co. Donegal	500,000	50,000
8	Easkey	Easkey Community Council Ltd., Old Grange, Easkey, Co. Sligo	-	50,000 Shared with Enniscrone
9	Drumshanbo	Drumshanbo Community Council Ltd., Laird House, Church Street, Drumbshanbo, Co. Leitrim	-	50,000
10	Drumshanbo	Enterprise Centre Company Ltd., Hill Street, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim	-	50,000

**Midland Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
13	Portlarlington	Portarlington Enterprise Centre Ltd., Portarlington Business park, Canal Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois	-	50,000 Shared with Portlaoise
14	Longford	Longford Enterprise Development Company Ltd., Longford & Technology Business Park, Templemichael, Ballinalee Road, Longford	300,000	50,000 Shared with Granard
16	Ballyfin	Ballyfin Community Development Association, c/o Michael Burke, Ballylusk, Ballyfin, Co. Laois	500,000	-

**West Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
17	Kiltimagh	IRD Kiltimagh Ltd., Aidan Street, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo	-	50,000
20	Headford	Headford Development Association Ltd., c/o Mrs Frances O’Reilly, Deerpark, Headford, Co. Galway	500,000	-
22	Galway	SCCUL Enterprises Ltd., 1 Walter Macken Road, Mervue, Galway	-	50,000
23	Westport	Westport Multi Agency Enterprise Group Ltd., c/o Westport Town Council, Civic Centre, Altamount Street, Westport, Co. Mayo	500,000	-

**Dublin Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
25	Swords	M1 Enterprise Centre, c/o Ann Marie Farrelly, Economic & Social Development \|Division, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin	145,500	-
26	Nutgrove	Nutgrove Community Enterprise Group Ltd., Nutgrove Enterprise Park, Nutgrove Way, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14	300,000	50,000

**Mid East Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
29	Navan	Navan Enterprise Centre Company Ltd., Trim Road, Navan, Co. Meath	300,000	-

**Mid West Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
30	Kilmallock	Kilmallock Economic Enterprise Development Ltd., Spittal House, Portauns, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick	-	50,000 Shared with Kantoher
31	Thurles	Thurles Community Enterprise Centre Ltd., c/o Thurles Chamber of Commerce, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	450,000	-
32	Croom	Croom Community Development Association Ltd., Croom House, Croom, Co. Limerick	450,000	-
33	Cloughjordan	North Tipperary Green Enterprise Park, c/o SPI Ltd., Main Street, Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary	450,000	50,000 Shared with Thurles & Rearcross
34	Cahersiveen	Iveragh Co-Operative Farmers Mart Society Limited, Reenrusheen, Cahersiveen Co. Kerry	134,543	50,000
35	Faha [Killarney]	Listry Community Council Ltd., Hazelfort Farm, Ballymalis, Beaufort, Co. Kerry	135,000	-
36	Annascaul	Comhlacht Forbartha Phobal Abhainn na Scail Teo	147,600	-
37	Broadford	Broadford Voluntary Housing Association Ltd., t/a The Broadford Community Enterprise Centre, Main Street, Broadford, Co. Limerick	450,000	-
38	Ballylanders	Ballylanders Development Association Ltd., Main Street, Ballylanders, Co. Limerick	427,500	-
40	Ennistymon	Project Ennistymon Ltd., Ennistymon Enterprise Centre, Deerpark West, Ennistymon, Co.Clare	56,100	50,000

**South and South East Region**
Project No.	Location	Name & Address of Community Group	Recommended Capital Grant €	Recommended Management Grant €
43	Clonmel	Clonmel Business Development Park Ltd., Clonmel Borough Council, Town Hall, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary	-	50,000
44	Waterford	Waterford Local Economic Development Company Limited, c/o St. Saviours Parish Centre, Ballybeg, Waterford	450,000	-
45	Kilkenny	Kilkenny Industrial Development Company (KIDCo) Limited, c/o Marie Grogan, O’Neill Foley Accountants, Patrick’s Court, Patrick Street, Kilkenny	400,000	-
46	Bagnelstown	Carlow Agricultural and Environmental Enterprise Development Centre Ltd., c/o Carlow Leader Rural Development Co., Main Street, Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow	450,000	50,000 Shared with Carlow
47	Castlecomer	Castlecomer Enterprise Group, Beechgrove, Ardra, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny	196,500	50,000 Shared with Callen
48	Callen	Callen and District Industrial Development Association CANDIDA, c/o Michael Burke, Tullamaine, Callen, Co. Kilkenny	450,000	Shared with Castlecomer
49	Cappoquin	Cappoquin Community Development Company Ltd., Community Centre, Twig Bog, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford	-	50,000 Shared with Dungarvan
50	Youghal	Hatherton Ltd., t/a Enterprise Youghal, St. Mary’s College, Youghal, Co. Cork	-	50,000 Shared with Cobh
51	Dunmanway	Dunmanway Enterprise Network, c/o John Collins, Fitzmaurice Ludlow Solicitors, East Green, Dunmanway, Co. Cork	450,000	-
52	Cobh	Cobh Harbour Chamber, The Old Yacht Club, Cobh, Co. Cork	450,000	Shared With Youghal
54	Mitchelstown	Mitchelstown Advance Factory Ltd, c/o Ballyhoura Development, Main Street, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick	-	50,000 Shared with Mitchelstown Forum, Hospital and Ballylanders
55	Mitchelstown	Mitchelstown Forum, 1 Thomas Street Mitchelstown, Co. Cork	450,000	Shared with Mitchelstown Advance Factory, Hospital and Ballylanders
56	Macroom	Macroom Environmental Industrial Park Ltd., Macroom Environmental Industrial Park, Bowl Road, Macroom, Co. Cork	108,900	-

Last modified: 31/10/2008

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